ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Detroit Tigers rookie center fielder Austin Jackson impressed Tigers manger Jim Leyland with his reaction to striking out three times and getting his first fielding error in the first six innings of Tuesday night’s game. He had a walk, clutch hit and two great catches after that.

“That really showed me something,” Leyland said. “He was having a rough night and took a giant step forward for me. He showed me something. He didn’t give up.”

Jackson is a grinder.

“You know there are going to be games like that,” Jackson said Wednesday. “The toughest thing is to not give up. When it gets to crunch time, you have to be there with the big hit or big catch.

“I was frustrated in the beginning with that play (resulting in an error), but I talked to my teammates and that helped me.”

Anticipation led to both hit-robbing catches.

On taking a single away from Mike Napoli: “I played a few steps in on him that at-bat, and it allowed me to get there just in time.”

On taking a run-scoring, extra-base hit away from Juan Rivera: “Tom Brookens moved me back two steps on that one, and it was very important.”

Tigers outfield coach Tom Brookens goes over a spray chart on hitters with Jackson before games and then moves him around during games.

“He’s only going to get better once he gets a feel for it,” Brookens said. “And he’s a treat to work with.”